On behalf of the President of African-German Network of Excellence in Science (AGNES), TWAS-ROSSA is pleased to announce that the Call for Applications for its funding programme: the ‘AGNES Intra-Africa Mobility Grant for Junior Researchers’ is now open. The Grant is made possible through funding from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and with support of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (AvH).

The AGNES Mobility Grant for Junior Researchers aims to strengthen the scientific capacity and networking in Africa through active co-operation of AGNES and potential AGNES members. It further supports the alumni of the AvH in their efforts towards coaching and mentoring high potential junior researchers, helping them to access international networks of scientific excellence.

AGNES aims to strengthen the scientific capacity and networking in Africa through active co-operation of AGNES and potential AGNES members. The programme enables researchers studying towards a Masters or PhD from sub-Saharan African countries to spend research stays between 1 and 2 months at a university/research institute in other sub-Saharan African country.

Eligibility Requirements:

Direct applications from junior researchers only will be considered for the AGNES Mobility Grant.

The applicant may be from any academic discipline but must be officially registered for the Masters or the Doctoral degree at a university/tertiary institute in sub-Sahara Africa, and must be a national of a sub-Saharan African country. Applicants must demonstrate clearly that their work is relevant towards development in sub-Saharan African countries and cannot be conducted in the home country.

Only applicants with an identified scientific host and mutually agreed-upon proposal/work schedule will be considered for the Grant.

Application Procedure:

Interested junior scientists should submit their electronic applications directly to the AGNES

Desk via email: agnes.admin@uct.ac.za by 06th April 2018. Please ensure that the application

and all supporting documents reach the AGNES desk by midnight South African time.

Complete applications must include the following:

Letter of motivation from the junior scientist (applicant) with a short outline of the proposed research activity and a work schedule for achieving the aim(s) of the research project at the host institution.

The scientific host must agree in writing to the proposal and time schedule.

A standard CV of the applicant (use the template attached) and offical proof of registration for the postgraduate degree (only current Masters and Doctoral students are eligible).

– Copy of the official Academic transcripts of applicant, reflecting the grades obtained in

the undergraduate and any postgraduate study. Please supply the official explanation of the grading system.

– A list of publications (include an e-copy of at least the Title/Author page), or other proof

– Travel costs (by land or economy class flight): supply two quotes for the journey

(including return travel) between the applicant’s country of residence and the country of

the host institute). In general, the cheapest option shall be chosen.

– Estimated cost of living (rent, meals, local transport, health insurance) at the host institute.

It is expected that applicants themselves will conclude a valid health insurance for the research stay. Scientific hosts and host institutes are expected to assist applicants in finding affordable accommodation and to advise them on establishing subsistence estimates.

– Invitation letter from the scientific host:

(i) confirming that a place to work will be available at the indicated period,

(ii) a binding declaration from the host institution, requesting an. amount of the research cost allowance. A maximum amount of EUR 100 per month and EUR 200 per month, respectively, is earmarked for Humanities & Social Sciences, and Natural & Life Sciences and Engineering Sciences.

How to Apply:

Interested junior scientists should submit their electronic applications directly to AGNES desk via email: agnes.admin@uct.ac.za by 6 April 2018. Please ensure that the application and all supporting documents reach the AGNES desk by midnight South African time.